Rugby sevens at the Paris Olympics saw women’s rugby attendance records tumble and Springboks and Harlequins prop Babalwa Latsha believes this is just the start.
The Olympic Games acted as the canvas for the best rugby sevens players in the world to strut their stuff.
To watch the Stade de France saw record crowds at the event as 530 000 people attended the men’s and women’s competitions.
Among those, 260 000 came out in their droves in the French capital to watch as the Black Ferns won gold, Canada picked up silver and the USA brought home bronze.
Already those attendances have ignited the flame of possibility for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.
There is hope that the World Cup final at Twickenham Stadium can draw in a new record attendance of over 80 000 people.
“I think that the numbers of attendance that women’s rugby is pulling in, it is more than tangible that we can set new records at the World Cup next year,” Latsha said.
“At club level, Quins have the record of the best-attended club game (15 420), at the Six Nations there are record-breaking attendances, at the Paris Olympics there have been record breaking attendances.
“I have more than enough reason to believe that the World Cup has more than enough potential to do that.
“Women’s rugby is an incredible phenomenon and finally the world is catching on.
“Finally, the world is starting to recognise that.
“I believe with all my heart that we can set and break new world records.”
The Springboks Women have seen their own growth in this time.
Now ranked 12th in the World Rugby rankings, the team are looking to break new ground at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Due to make their fifth appearance at the tournament after winning the Rugby Africa’s Women’s Cup to become the sixth side to confirm their place in England, Latsha has been at the heart of this continuing development.
The first African woman to become a professional rugby player the 30-year-old even breaks down barriers off the pitch as an ambassador for the MENstruation Foundation and The Beast Foundation.
Wins over Samoa and Spain in the past 12 months have underlined this development, although Latsha for one knows that their work is far from over as they prepare to host WXV2 for the second year running.
“The Springboks women have come on leaps and bounds,” she said.
“I have been with them since 2017, and we have reached a few milestones. If you look at the team then and now, it is a whole different animal.
“Our growth is nothing short of tremendous and I look forward to seeing what we can do in WXV2, at the World Cup and beyond.
“It is an incredible group that we have now. Recently we have contracted XVs players, and we have seen the employment of Lynne Cantwell as High-Performance Manager from Ireland.
“I think there is lots to be proud of, but also to understand that although we have come a long way, there is still a long way to go.
“It is so exciting to be part of a group and to have witnessed how much we have grown over the years.”
© Sportsbeat